Chapter One: The Last Tree Standing
Thesunbeatdownrelentlessly,itsharshraysaconstantreminderofaworldthat
lossofwhathadbeen.
carefreesoundofchildrenplaying.Itwasstrained,weak,asifthechildren
slow,theirenergybarelyenoughtomakeitthroughtheday.
feetwascrackedanddry,theearthnolongerabletonurturelifeasitoncedid.The
themselvesweretryingtoholdontosomething,anything,thatresembledjoy.A
soil.
Theirribsstuckoutbeneaththeirskin.Theireyeswerewideandhollow,asthough
hadlongsincelostitsway.Dr.Kuntustoodstillinthemidstofitall,looking
Dr.Kuntustoodthere,takingitallin.Shecouldalmostheartheechoesoflaughter,
riversthathadoncecarriedwater,sound,andlifenowlayasemptyscarsinthe
heryouthwerenownothingmorethanabarrenwasteland.Thegroundbeneathher
werenownothingmorethansandfilledskeletons.Thewindwhisperedthroughthe
Dr.Kuntulookedawayfromthechildren,herheartheavy.Sheturnedhergaze
clingingtotheirskin.Theykickedadeflatedballbackandforth,theirmovements
herbones,theweightofitall.Shewasthelastoneleftwhoremembered.Thelast
Inthedistance,afaintsoundechoedthroughtheair;laughter.Butitwasn'tthe
aroundatthelifelesslandscape.Theoncethrivingkemitplainsshehadknownin
thestars.Now,itwasallgone.Thesilenceintheairwasdeafening.Shefeltitin
wereoncefulloflife.
ruins,carryingthescentofdecay.Itfeltasthougheventheearthitselfmournedthe
groupofthemhuddledaroundadriedupwell,theirfacesthinandhollow,dust
theyhadseentoomuchforchildrentheirage.Itwashardtoimaginethatthey
backtotheruinsofthevillagebehindher.Mudhutsthathadoncestoodproudly
thesoundoffamiliescookingtogether,thevoicesofelderssharingstoriesunder
werenowreducedtorubble.Thethatchedroofs,onceplacesofwarmthandlife,
onewhocouldstilltrytomakesenseofit.